TECHNOLOGY EXPERT
Identifying aluminium breakages
is no problem with XRF-T
Italian technology provider SGM
Magnetics has developed the
SGM XRF-T separator. One sole
separator running only the XRT
process for the separation of
light metals, and then the XRF
combined with the XRT for the
separation of heavy metals.
Unlike the X-ray transmission technology,
which produces images of the single pieces of
metal processed, X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
technology indicates the presence, concentra-
tion and nature of heavy metals.
‘This means that XRF has to be combined with
an additional imaging technology to identify
the shape of every single piece processed,
SGM Magnetics explains. ‘This relates the XRF
info on the presence and concentration of
heavy metals to single pieces and allows for
the possibility of producing a target for the
pneumatic expel system.’
Traditional XRF sorters work in combination
with either cameras or 3D laser scanners which
provide imaging information on the shape of
the single pieces processed but nothing on the
chemical nature of their content. The proprie-
tary patent-pending SGM XRF-T responds to
this limitation in sole imaging technologies by
adding an image of every individual piece and
information on the full metal composition. In
short, the SGM XRF-T sorters make possible
the identification and sorting of pieces of alu-
minium even though they may have pieces of
heavy metals within them or still attached to
them.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
ASR Zorba: Sorting of aluminium wrought
ASR Zebra: Sorting of heavy metals between
them
ASR Zurik: Sorting of stainless steel series 316
for the 306
SGM XRF-T SPECS
• Use of the latest XRF technology for the sep-
aration of heavy metals from each other (eg
Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb) including metal alloys such as
brass, bronze and 316 series stainless steel
from 306 series.
• Use of the latest XRT technology to segre-
gate wrought aluminium from heavy metals
as well as from light magnesium alloys (with
aluminium as the main addition) and heavy
aluminium cast alloys (with copper and/or
zinc as the main additions).
• Use of extra powerful X-ray sources to better
overcome possible inaccuracies in the XRF
analysis resulting from paint coatings and/or
the presence of dust on material.
EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS
• Identifying aluminium breakages and sorting
them along with heavy metals.
• The possibility of one sole separator running
only the XRT process for the separation of
the light metals and then the XRF combined
with XRT for the separation of heavy metals.
When using only XRF also for light metals,
XRF considers as light metals all what is dif-
ferent from heavy metals which is not accu-
rate as inbound material can still hold alu-
minium breakages and residual non-metallic
contaminant.
• Using XRT for light metals is the most pro-
ductive solution because of the higher reso-
lution from XRT technology versus XRF.
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